1. In light of the foregoing, the Commission concludes that serious violations
of important human rights provided in the Declaration of the Rights and Duties
of Man have occurred in Suriname. The rights particularly affected are:

2. The Right to Life, given the illegal executions carried out by agents and
authorities of the Government. The Commission is especially alarmed by the executions
that took place at the Fort Zeelandia prison during the night of December 8,
1982. On that occasion fifteen prominent Surinamese citizens were summarily
murdered. Furthermore, the overwhelming evidence obtained by the Commission
indicates that the fifteen were brutally tortured before being killed and that
high government officials participated, directly or indirectly, in their deaths.

3. The Right to Justice and Due Process, given that there is no truly independent
judicial power in Suriname since Chapter I of the 1975 Constitution was abrogated.
That Chapter provided that judges were not removable from office whereas at
present they serve at the pleasure of the Political Center. In addition, writs
of habeas corpus no longer exist, a consequence of the lack of judicial authority
over cases involving crimes which allegedly threaten state security. The Commission
also notes in relation to this right, that the climate of fear which pervades
the legal profession has resulted, inter alia, in the unwillingness of lawyers
either consider leadership positions in the Bar Association or to defend political
prisoners. This situation has, as a practical matter, meant that persons accused
of political crimes are defenseless.

4. The Right to Free Thought and Expression given that at present there is
no press freedom in Suriname. The only newspaper as well as the state run radio
and television stations are officially and completely censored, and oftentimes
journalists are subject to threats. In addition, the Right to Free opinion has
been further jeopardized by the Council of Ministers' adoption of a decree which
bans the possession, distribution, sale and importation of any work that might
be considered threatening to national security or public morals.

5. Freedom of Association given the ban, de facto, of political parties and
free labor unions. Likewise, this prohibition is discriminatory in that only
the PALU party, to which a number of high ranking Government officials belong,
may freely conduct its political activities.

6. Political Rights, given that the 1983-1986 Government Programs fails to
guarantee, notwithstanding dispositions to the contrary found in the American
Declaration of the rights and Duties of Man, a system based on universal suffrage,
secret ballot and the rights of all Surinamese citizens to participate in the
conduct of public affairs. The Commission also notes that the creation of Peoples'
Committees, popular militias and other similar organizations, more than simply
establishing new forms of participation, signal a development aimed at preventing
participation b all Surinamese citizens in the governance of their country on
a non-discriminatory basis. As a result the Commission is of the view that the
institutionalization currently being undertaken fails to offer a free choice
to the people of Suriname in selecting their political destiny.

7. Given the magnitude and gravity of the violations that have been committed,
the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights exhorts the Government of Suriname
to radically correct both its conduct and its legislation in order to reestablish
democratic institutions including an independent judiciary as well as respect
for fundamental human rights.